Those of you who know me, uh, know I have a reputation, uh for being . . . for being a tad bit organized. Or at least for planning to be . . . I’ll admit I tend to over-do color-coded spreadsheets and I’d rather shop at Office Depot than Macy’s but too organized? Can one ever be too organized? I’ll leave that debate for another day’s topic. Today I want to address reading lists.
In recent years I’ve started jotting down the names of books I wanted to buy because I’ve been known to purchase the same book not just once or even twice but sometimes three times. (Great cover and jacket blurb, I suppose—I’m glad they make good gifts.) Kindle, thank goodness, tells me when I’ve already bought something because, yes, I’ve tried to buy the same book multiple times from Amazon too. Think it’s time to stop being blond?
Anyway, after catching up on the blogs I’d missed while I was sick at the end of the year I saw a recurring theme. People keep lists of the books they read during the preceding year. Some even review said books. With great anticipation they create reading lists for the upcoming year. Hum. What a concept. I’m a list person. I’ve been accused of keeping lists of my lists. I can do this. I want to do this.
When I’m rocking and rolling I finish two or three books a week. Of course there are other times when I’ll go weeks and not read at all. During most of December, for example, I was so exhausted from being sick anything I read would have been buried so deep in my noggin it’d never see the light of day again. I tried to read, but I’d have to read the same paragraph five or six times to grasp it and usually fell asleep before I got that far. It wasn’t worth it.
I finally finished my last 2010 book last night so it’s time to start my 2011 reading list. I have several downloaded to my IPad so what to read won’t be an issue – I’ll just pick one and jump in. I’m issuing a challenge to my faithful readers (both of you—just kidding) to track your reading for 2011. Not newspapers and magazines, that’s more work than I’m willing to invest, but books—let’s go for it.
At the end of the year I’ll use my handy-dandy online random number generator and give away a copy of my favorite book of the year to one reader who leaves a comment to a special end of the year post. How does that sound? Heck, you can give away your favorite book, too if you want. I’ll even share my random number generator.
If you need a little help with your reading list, check out the BBC Book List Challenge on Facebook. The BBC selected 100 books; their premise is the average person will have read only 6 of these books. The Facebook BBC Book List Challenge will track the books you read (I think) so why not take it and maybe incorporate it into your reading list for the year. To see how I did go to my Facebook page at kayelamwrites. Hint: It’s more than six.
I’ve never kept up with the books I’ve read on an annual basis, but it sounds like a good idea. Have you? This can be fun. Just a simple spreadsheet. Book title and author. Maybe number of pages . . . and word count.
Oh yeah, the word was compulsive, not organized.
~Kay
Sue Jean Elam-Smith
January 5, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Hey, Kay, so glad you are feeling like getting back in the groove and reorganized once again…..you are absolutely one of the most organzied people I’ve ever know…and may I say, once again, thank you for all you have brought to our family….there have been several times I don’t know how we would have managed without your ability.
Love you,
Ma Sue
Kay
January 5, 2011 at 4:38 pm
Thanks, Ma Sue. It’s good to be back among the living. I’m still extremely fatigued. G says that may last for weeks. I’m still coughing but at least it isn’t 24/7 lit it was. At least it’s cold and yucky outside–a good time to stay inside by a warm fire. Love you too.
Tanya Williams Spillman
January 5, 2011 at 7:40 pm
I’m totally going to do this! I’ve never thought of keeping track of what I read (maybe that’s why I also have been known to buy the same book more than once).